Locker display case

ABSTRACT

A locker display case is modeled after a sports locker and includes a traditional grated door. The inside is suitable for displaying team jerseys, equipment, or other memorabilia. Inside the “locker”, an angled shelf is positioned to display printed material or other memorabilia. Below, drawers provide storage. On one external side, a number of pivotable/hinged, vertical display racks are provided which allows flat items of sports memorabilia (such as posters, banners, and the like) to be stored and displayed, while the other external side has a number of adjustable shelves that can be configured in numerous arrangements. Optionally, the adjustable shelves may include a glass front. In a preferred embodiment, the entire display case is made from wood or wood-like material, though other materials may be used.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the storage of collectables andmore particularly, to the ornamental storage and display ofcollectables.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] It has been a long-time popular hobby for people to collect,preserve, and display memorabilia relating to sports teams/players,historical events, musical memorabilia, and personal achievements. Inparticular, there are many people who collect clothing worn by famousathletes, and equipment used in major sports events. For example, manybaseball fans collect major league baseball memorabilia such asbaseballs, bats, caps, gloves and uniform jerseys. These sports objectcollections are usually contained in some kind of showcase for bothprotection and presentation.

[0003] A typical sports trophy showcase has a solid wooden frame, apiece of glass, one or several padding pieces, and a back panel. Asports object is first affixed to the back panel, and then the backpanel and the piece of glass are assembled in the frame with one orseveral padding pieces so that the sports object can be viewed throughthe glass while being protected by the frame against dust or distortion.The frame may be hung on the wall or placed on a stand.

[0004] Over the years, an increasing number of people have begun tocollect athletic miniatures. One reason people collect athleticminiatures is that the original athletic uniforms are limited, and notavailable to everyone. They are often contained in customized frameswhich are similar to the larger frames described above. Further, manyparents like to collect and display sports trophies or other results ofachievements of their children.

[0005] Unfortunately, there is no known means of attractively andefficiently displaying all the different types of collectables at once.In particular, the difficulty arises partly because of the numeroussizes and configurations of all the different memorabilia. A furtherproblem arises from the fact that most display cases basically look thesame.

[0006] Accordingly, what is needed is a display case that is capable ofdisplaying memorabilia of varying sizes and configurations. The displaycase preferably should be attractive and allow for efficient collection,preservation, and display of memorabilia.

SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention features a locker display case allowing auser to display a plurality of collectables and other memorabilia in anattractive and efficient manner. The locker display case includes acabinet structure modeled after a locker. The locker display caseincludes an inside region, a front region, and a first and second sideregion.

[0008] The inside region includes at least one hanger to suspend anitem. In a preferred embodiment, the inside region also includes atleast one horizontal or angled shelf and optionally a light source.

[0009] The front region includes at least one door allowing visualaccess to the inside region. In a preferred embodiment, at least aportion of the door includes a grated material. The door may be eitherhinged or it may slide open. Optionally, the door may include a lock. Inyet another embodiment, the front region also includes at least onedrawer and optionally a nametag.

[0010] The first side region is approximately perpendicular to the frontregion and includes a plurality of pivotable/hinged racks. The hingedracks may be positioned in a first position adapted to display aplurality of items and a second position wherein the plurality of racksare approximately parallel to each other.

[0011] The second side region is opposite the first side region andincludes a plurality of shelves. In a preferred embodiment, the shelvesare enclosed in glass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be better understood by reading the following detailed description,taken together with the drawings wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is plain side view of one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

[0014]FIG. 2 is a plain side view of another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] A locker display case 10, FIG. 1, in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, allows a user to displaya plurality of collectables 12, for example, but not limited to, publicservant memorabilia (for example firefighters or police memorabilia),military memorabilia, musical/performing arts memorabilia, or sportsmemorabilia (such as team jerseys, equipment, awards, or the like), andother memorabilia in an attractive and efficient manner. The lockerdisplay case 10 may be constructed out of wood, metal, plastic, acombination of two or more, or any other suitable material known tothose skilled in the art.

[0016] The front of the locker display case 10 is modeled after a sportslocker and includes a door 14. The door 14 may either swing open on ahinge or slide open (either as a single piece or as two pieces slidingin opposite directions). In a preferred embodiment, at least a portionof the door 14 is made from a grated or mesh or chain-like material 15typically found on sport lockers. In yet another embodiment, a portionof the door 14 may be made from a transparent material. The door 14 mayalso include a lock 22 to secure the collectables 12 contained inside aswell as a nameplate 24.

[0017] The inside 16 of the locker display case preferably contains atleast one coat hook and/or garment hanger rod 18. The inside 16 alsopreferably includes an angled shelf 20 that is positioned to displayprinted material 12 or other memorabilia. Additional shelves (not shown)may also be added for display purposes. The shelves 20 and the hangers18 may optionally be user adjustable to allow the user to customize thelocker display case 10. According to a preferred embodiment, the inside16 also includes a light source (not shown).

[0018] Below the “locker” on the front, drawers 26 are preferablyincluded to provide additional storage. These drawers 26 may optionallycontain locks. Moreover, the drawers 26 may further include adjustableor fixed partitions (not shown) allowing the user to configure thedrawers 26 to store and organize collectable 12 such as, but not limitedto, baseball cards and the like. In another embodiment, the drawers 26are modeled after typical footlockers and may include a clear seethroughfront.

[0019] On a first external side, a plurality of pivotable/hinged,vertical display racks 30 are provided. The racks 30 allow the user toefficiently store and organize a plurality of collectables 12. The racks30 may further be used to create a “timeline” such as the history of theuser's favorite player, sports team, etc. The racks 30 are particularlyuseful for storing and organizing large items such as posters andclothing or a collection of smaller items such as newspaper clippings,banners, pictures and the like. In one embodiment, the racks 30 includea portion of corkboard like material or hooks and loops to allow theuser to easily attach posters, banners, and the like 12. In anotherembodiment, the racks 30 may optionally include shelves (not shown).Alternatively, the racks 30 may be made from an attractive material suchas wood, metal, or plastic. The exterior rack 34 is preferably finishedin an attractive material such that when the racks 30 are closed theyappear hidden within the locker display case 10. Optionally, theexterior rack 34 may further include a lock to protect the collectables12.

[0020] The second external side, opposite the first external side,preferably includes a plurality of adjustable shelves 32, FIG. 2. Theadjustable shelves 32 may be configured in numerous arrangementsallowing the user to customize the locker display case 10 to suit theirparticular tastes and/or configure the shelves to suit large and smallitems. Optionally, the adjustable shelves 32 may include a glass frontthat is hinged and locked.

[0021] Accordingly, modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A locker display case comprising: a cabinetstructure including: an inside region having a device to suspend anitem; a front region, said front region including at least one doorallowing visual access to said inside region and at least one drawerlocated on said front region; a first side region, said first sideregion approximately perpendicular to said front region and including aplurality of hinged vertically oriented storage devices having a firstposition adapted to display a plurality of items and a second positionwherein said plurality of racks are approximately parallel to eachother; and a second side region, said second side region being oppositesaid first side region and including a plurality of shelves.
 2. Thelocker display case as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion ofsaid door is grated.
 3. The locker display case as claimed in claim 2wherein said door is hinged.
 4. The locker display case as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said door slides open.
 5. The locker display case asclaimed in claim 4 wherein said door slits into two pieces, each piecesliding opposition from each other.
 6. The locker display case asclaimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said door is made froma transparent material.
 7. The locker display case as claimed in claim 3wherein said door further includes a nametag.
 8. The locker display caseas claimed in claim 3 wherein said door further includes a lock.
 9. Thelocker display case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inside regionfurther includes a light source.
 10. The locker display case as claimedin claim 1 wherein said inside region further includes at least oneshelf.
 11. The locker display case as claimed in claim 10 wherein saidshelf is angled.
 12. The locker display case as claimed in claim 1wherein said drawer on said front region further includes a lock. 13.The locker display case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality ofhinged vertically oriented storage devices on said first side regionfurther includes a region of corkboard.
 14. The locker display case asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of hinged vertically orientedstorage devices on said first side region further includes a region ofhooks and loops.
 15. The locker display case as claimed in claim 1wherein said plurality of hinged vertically oriented storage devices onsaid first side region further includes a plurality of shelves.
 16. Thelocker display case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality ofracks on said first side region further includes a lock.
 17. The lockerdisplay case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shelves on said secondside region are enclosed in glass.
 18. The locker display case asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said shelves on said second side region areadjustable.
 19. The locker display case as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid shelves on said second side region are fixed.
 20. A locker displaycase comprising: a cabinet structure modeled after a locker andincluding: an inside region having hanger to suspend an item and atleast one shelf; a front region including: at least one door allowingvisual access to said inside region, at least a portion of said doorincluding a grated material; and at least one drawer located on saidfront region; a first side region, said first side region approximatelyperpendicular to said front region and including a plurality of hingedracks having a first position adapted to display a plurality of itemsand a second position wherein said plurality of racks are approximatelyparallel to each other; and a second side region, said second sideregion being opposite said first side region and including a pluralityof shelves.
 21. The locker display case as claimed in claim 20 whereinsaid door is hinged.
 22. The locker display case as claimed in claim 20wherein said door slides open.
 23. The locker display case as claimed inclaim 21 wherein said door further includes a nametag.
 24. The lockerdisplay case as claimed in claim 21 wherein said door further includes alock.
 25. The locker display case as claimed in claim 20 wherein saidinside region further includes a light source.
 26. The locker displaycase as claimed in claim 22 wherein said door slits into two pieces,each piece sliding opposition from each other.
 27. The locker displaycase as claimed in claim 20 wherein said plurality of hinged verticallyoriented storage devices on said first side region further includes aregion of corkboard.
 28. The locker display case as claimed in claim 20wherein said plurality of hinged vertically oriented storage devices onsaid first side region further includes a region of hooks and loops. 29.The locker display case as claimed in claim 20 wherein said plurality ofhinged vertically oriented storage devices on said first side regionfurther includes a plurality of shelves.
 30. A locker display casecomprising: a cabinet structure modeled after a locker and including: aninside region including: at least one hanger to suspend an item at leastone shelf; and a light source; a front region including: at least onedoor allowing visual access to said inside region, at least a portion ofsaid door including a grated material; at least one drawer located onsaid front region; a nametag located on said front region; a first sideregion, said first side region approximately perpendicular to said frontregion and including a plurality of hinged racks having a first positionadapted to display a plurality of items and a second position whereinsaid plurality of racks are approximately parallel to each other; and asecond side region, said second side region being opposite said firstside region and including a plurality of shelves.
 31. The locker displaycase as claimed in claim 30 wherein said door is hinged.
 32. The lockerdisplay case as claimed in claim 30 wherein said door slides open. 33.The locker display case as claimed in claim 31 wherein said door furtherincludes a lock.
 34. The locker display case as claimed in claim 32wherein said door slits into two pieces, each piece sliding oppositionfrom each other.
 35. The locker display case as claimed in claim 30wherein said plurality of hinged vertically oriented storage devices onsaid first side region further includes a region of corkboard.
 36. Thelocker display case as claimed in claim 30 wherein said plurality ofhinged vertically oriented storage devices on said first side regionfurther includes a region of hooks and loops.
 37. The locker displaycase as claimed in claim 30 wherein said plurality of hinged verticallyoriented storage devices on said first side region further includes aplurality of shelves.